San Jose Sharks' power play hasn't been very powerful

SAN JOSE -- The statistic is double-edged: Over the past 16 games, the Sharks have scored twice as often short-handed as on the power play.

And while the penalty kill can take pride in its four goals over that stretch, coach Todd McLellan is more focused on his team's woeful 2-for-48 performance with a man advantage and would like to see things improve Tuesday night when the Toronto Maple Leafs close out San Jose's four-game homestand.

"It's frustrating with that type of talent you put on the ice that's been together that long," McLellan said of his team's power play. "I'm not pulling any punches or candy-coating it. It has to be better."

San Jose Sharks' Logan Couture (39) fights for the puck against Montreal Canadiens' Brian Gionta (21)in the third period at SAP Center in San Jose, Calif. on Saturday, March 8, 2014. (Josie Lepe/Bay Area News Group)
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Josie Lepe
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The cold streak has dropped the Sharks power play to 21st overall in the NHL with a 16.2 percent success rate. On the other hand, San Jose is now tied for sixth in the NHL this season with seven short-handed goals; the penalty kill is tied for sixth overall as well at 84 percent.

The only thing consistent about the Sharks power play these days is the lack of goals.

In going 0 for 4 in Thursday night's 5-3 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins, San Jose had no trouble setting up in the offensive zone, moved the puck well and got 17 shots on net. In going 0 for 5 two nights later against Montreal, nothing clicked and the Sharks registered only three shots on net.

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Even the top teams only score on one in every four power plays, but McLellan does want to see his team gain momentum with an opponent sitting in the penalty box. Even that has been a problem.

"The ragged games are going to happen, but too many of them," he said. "It has to be better over the next few months for us to have success."

Tough guy Mike Brown has been a healthy scratch the past four games, but could be in the lineup against Toronto.

Part of that depends on whether his Maple Leafs counterpart, Colton Orr, is healthy enough to go against the Sharks. Orr has missed the last eight games with an undisclosed injury but could be close to returning.

"Brownie is ready to go. He's worked hard," McLellan said. "We choose our lineup nightly based on what we think we need, and what the other team has, how the lines have performed."

This is Brown's fifth NHL team, and he is knows the drill well.

"This has been part of my life for seven years in the NHL and a couple in the minors. It's nothing new to me," he said. "You've got to stay positive. Just be ready when your time is called."

Marty Havlat has been scratched the past two games, and McLellan indicated Monday that while the Sharks forward isn't injured, he is using the time off to improve physically.

"We're trying to shut him down to get him built up so that he can play," the coach said.

"He's working on his strength and flexibility on the nights he's not playing."

Havlat had played in the 10 games before those against Pittsburgh and Montreal, scoring two goals. He referred all questions on his status to McLellan.

Defenseman Brad Stuart is making progress but is likely to miss at least a few more games with his upper body injury.

"Skating on his own, hasn't been involved in contact," McLellan said of Stuart. "So the conditioning part we're trying to maintain. The banging, the plays, the read of the game hasn't happened yet, so it'll be a little while yet."